Page 43 - Shark

Eye
Gill slit pig Headed
The blunt heads
and big nostrils of
the horn sharks do
look like those of a
pig, which is why
the Port Jackson
sharks are
sometimes called
“pig fish.” They are also called bulldog sharks because
their flattish faces and squashed-up snouts make them
look like bulldogs. Yet another name for Port Jackson
sharks is oyster catchers, because they like to eat oysters
by crunching them up with their strong back teeth.
Nostril

Pectoral fin Spine on first
dorsal fin

Spine on second dorsal fin—Port
Jackson sharks are killed for their
spines, which are used to make
jewelry (pp. 60–61)

Front view of
Port Jackson
shark
Nostril
Broad, dark
stripe on skin,
Anal fin typical of Port Pelvic fin
Jackson shark
Caudal fin

Horn sHarks all tHe better to smell witH
The horn shark from the Horn sharks, like this Port Jackson,
Pacific coast of California have very well-developed nostrils. A
is mainly active during good sense of smell may help these
the night, but it spends sharks find food, like sea urchins
the day hiding in crevices. and shellfish. When the Port
In some places, its favorite Jackson finds food, it gets
food is the purple sea urchin. The hold with its sharp front
purple pigment, or color, is not broken teeth The back teeth
down when the shark digests its food. (pp. 24–25) are blunt
Instead, the pigment stains the shark’s for crushing the
teeth and spines purple. shells of its prey.